SECTION 2

Objectives
Magnetism from
Electricity
Describe the magnetic field
produced by current in a
straight conductor and in a
solenoid.
Key Term
Use the right-hand rule to solenoid
determine the direction of the
magnetic field in a current-
carrying wire. Magnetic Field of a Current-Carrying Wire
Scientists in the late 1700s suspected that there was a relationship between
electricity and magnetism, but no theory had been developed to guide
their experiments. In 1820, Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted
devised a method to study this relationship. Following a lecture to his
advanced class, Oersted demonstrated that when brought near a current-
carrying wire, a compass needle is deflected from its usual north-south
orientation. He published an account of this discovery in July 1820, and his
work stimulated other scientists all over Europe to repeat the experiment.

A long, straight, current-carrying wire has a cylindrical magnetic field.

The experiment shown in Figure 2.1(a) uses iron filings to show that a
current-carrying conductor produces a magnetic field. In a similar experi-
ment, several compass needles are placed in a horizontal plane near a
long vertical wire, as illustrated in Figure 2.2(b). When no current is in the
wire, all needles point in the same direction (that of Earth’s magnetic
field). However, when the wire carries a strong, steady current, all the
needles deflect in directions tangent to concentric circles around the wire.
This result points out the direction of B, the magnetic field induced by the
current. When the current is reversed, the needles reverse direction.
FIGURE 2.1

Magnetic Field of a
Current-Carrying Wire
(a) When the wire carries a strong
current, the alignments of the iron
filings show that the magnetic (bl), (br) ©Richard Menga/Fundamental Photographs, New York;
field induced by the current forms
concentric circles around the wire.
(b) Compasses can be used to show
the direction of the magnetic field
induced by the wire.

(a) (b)

672 Chapter 19
 The right-hand rule can be used to determine the FIGURE 2.2
direction of the magnetic field.
The Right-Hand Rule You can use the right-hand
These observations show that the direction of B is consistent
rule to find the direction of this magnetic field.
with a simple rule for conventional current, known as the
right-hand rule: If the wire is grasped in the right hand with I
the thumb in the direction of the current, as shown in
Figure 2.2, the four fingers will curl in the direction of B.

As shown in Figure 2.1(a), the lines of B form concentric

circles about the wire. By symmetry, the magnitude of B is
the same everywhere on a circular path centered on the wire
and lying in a plane perpendicular to the wire. Experiments
show that B is proportional to the current in the wire and
inversely proportional to the distance from the wire.

Magnetic Field of a Current Loop

The right-hand rule can also be applied to find the direction B
of the magnetic field of a current-carrying loop, such as the
loop represented in Figure 2.3(a). Regardless of where on the
loop you apply the right-hand rule, the field within the loop
points in the same direction—upward. Note that the field
lines of the current-carrying loop resemble those of a bar C21-002-003-A
magnet, as shown in Figure 2.3(b). If a long, straight wire is
bent into a coil of several closely spaced loops, as shown on
the next page in Figure 2.4, the resulting device is called a solenoid. solenoid a long, helically wound coil
of insulated wire

FIGURE 2.3

Current-Carrying Loop (a)

The magnetic field of a current loop is
similar to (b) that of a bar magnet.

ELECTROMAGNETISM
B

Wind the wire around the nail, as explain why the compass needle
shown below. Remove the now points in a different direction?
insulation from the ends of the Bring paper clips near the nail
wire, and hold these ends against while connected to the battery. I
the metal terminals of the battery. What happens to the paper (a) I
clips? How many can you pick
up?
HRW • Holt Physics
B
PH99PE-C21-002-006-A
MATERIALS
Use the compass to determine • D-cell battery N
whether the nail is magnetized. • 1 m length of insulated wire
Next, flip the battery so that the S
• large nail
PHYSICS
direction of the current is reversed. Spec.
• Number
compassPH 99 PE C21-002-012-A
Again, bring the compass toward Boston Graphics, Inc.
• metal paper clips
617.523.1333 (b)
the same part of the nail. Can you

Magnetism 673
HRW • Holt Physics
PH99PE-C21-002-007-A
 Solenoids produce a strong magnetic field by combining
several loops.
A solenoid is important in many applications because it acts as a magnet
when it carries a current. The magnetic field strength inside a solenoid
increases with the current and is proportional to the number of coils per
unit length. The magnetic field of a solenoid can be increased by inserting
an iron rod through the center of the coil; this device is often called an
electromagnet. The magnetic field that is induced in the rod adds to the
magnetic field of the solenoid, often creating a powerful magnet.
Figure 2.4 shows the magnetic field lines of a solenoid. Note that the
field lines inside the solenoid point in the same direction, are nearly
parallel, are uniformly spaced, and are close together. This indicates that
the field inside the solenoid is strong and nearly uniform. The field
outside the solenoid is nonuniform and much weaker than the interior
field. Solenoids are used in a wide variety of applications, from most of
the appliances in your home to very high-precision medical equipment.

FIGURE 2.4

Magnetic Field of a
Solenoid The magnetic field
inside a solenoid is strong and nearly I
uniform. Note that the field lines
resemble those of a bar magnet, so
a solenoid effectively has north and N S
south poles.

PHYSICS
Spec. Number PH 99 PE C21-0
SECTION 2 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT Boston Graphics, Inc.
617.523.1333

Reviewing Main Ideas

1. What is the shape of the magnetic field produced by a straight current-
carrying wire?
2. Why is the magnetic field inside a solenoid stronger than the magnetic
field outside?
3. If electrons behave like magnets, then why aren’t all atoms magnets?

Critical Thinking
4. In some satellites, torque coils are replaced by devices called torque rods.
In torque rods, a ferromagnetic material is inserted inside the coil. Why
does a torque rod have a stronger magnetic field than a torque coil?

674 Chapter 19